VANCOUVER (CP) - Jamie Martin says he never gave up hope, but admitted his optimism was waning as the days wore on.

"I thought I was going to get out every single night that I was in there. I thought, as I'm getting closer to dark, 'Well, it's just around the corner,' but it never was," he told CTV News from his hospital bed in Vancouver.

"Another day and I would have just ventured farther off and would have just died in the bush."

The search for Martin didn't begin until Tuesday, when his vehicle was reported abandoned at the top of the mountain.

Martin said he could see helicopters flying overhead, but they couldn't see him through the trees.

"I waved them down, I thought he was coming down for sure but he didn't come back," said Martin.

Rescuers spotted Martin's tracks in the snow and followed them. They found him Wednesday afternoon.

"It's wonderful to live another day ... to live another year," said Martin. "It's wonderful to make it out alive."

Martin's mother, Debbie Martin, spoke to reporters at Vancouver General Hospital on Thursday and said her son wasn't aware he'd gone out of bounds.

"He went to the top of the hill and was snowboarding and went out of bounds unknowingly," she said.

Debbie said her son suffered from hallucinations during his trek but kept walking and climbing while eating berries and snow.

Martin was released from hospital Thursday evening.